Donor Stories

It's part of their plan to support DePauw

Richard L. and Anna Klump Pilston, both members of the class of 1995 who met as students at DePauw, say they were inspired along the way by couples, such as Timothy H. and Sharon (Williams '58) Ubben '58, who support the University. The Ubbens support DePauw in many ways, including the Ubben Lecture Series that brings world-class speakers to campus.

"Their support helped make our experience at DePauw truly outstanding," the Pilstons, who live in Willow Street, Pa., explain. "We pledged to ourselves that if we could, we would do our best to give back in order to help better the University for the next generations of students."

Although of a younger age than many people associate with estate planning, the Pilstons wanted to ensure that their estate will be distributed according to their wishes, if something unexpected should happen to them. "Since supporting DePauw is so important to us, it was especially critical to include the University in our will.

"We expect our DePauw experience will continue to be a foundation on which our lives and careers are based, and in the future, we hope to be more active alumni and supporters of the University. We will periodically review our estate plan, but DePauw will continue to be an important part of that plan."

They have already been active as organizers of their 10-year class reunion, and they try to attend a Monon Bell telecast party with other alumni in their area every year. In fact, they organized telecast parties in Pittsburgh.

Both Rich and Anna were double majors—Rich in music and chemistry, Anna in music performance and mathematics—and were very active as students. They especially participated in a large number of School of Music events, including the DePauw Symphony, choirs, opera, chamber music groups and Mu Phi Epsilon. Rich, who received a Rector Scholarship, also was a member of Duzer Du and DePauw Little Theatre, and he worked in the University's admission office. Anna was active in DePauw Women in Science, and she worked in the Writing Center and as a teaching assistant in the School of Music.

A native of Birmingham, Ala., Rich fell in love with DePauw on his first visit; Anna, who grew up in Ridgefield, Conn., was attracted particularly by DePauw's School of Music. "Our years at DePauw were some of the best times of our lives," they say. "In addition to meeting each other, we value the lifelong friendships we developed with both our fellow classmates and many of the faculty members."

Rich is now a market development manager at DuPont, and Anna is a collection services librarian at Elizabethtown College. "The education we received prepared us both for further education and varied careers, and it gave us the confidence that we can accomplish the goals we set for ourselves. DePauw provided us with an outstanding foundation, which we would not trade for anything."

They enjoy their continuing involvement with the University. "We think DePauw is even better now than it was in the 1990s. With the help of alumni support, DePauw provides great resources for its students and faculty, and is able to improve the outstanding facilities that make it one of the nation's best liberal arts colleges," they say. "As music majors, we are particularly excited about the renovations and expansion of the Judson and Joyce Green Center for the Performing Arts—another example of an alumni couple (Judson C. and Joyce [Taglauer '75] Green '74) generously strengthening the University."

For Rich and Anna Pilston, it's already part of their plan to continue to support DePauw.